Apparatus and methods for combining beverage containers and snack food hanging pouches

ABSTRACT

Apparatus and methods for manufacturing snack food hanging pouches, and for combining beverage containers and snack food hanging pouches, are disclosed. A combined beverage and snack food package according to the invention can include a beverage container and a snack food hanging pouch that is suspended from the protrusion of the beverage container. A snack food hanging pouch according to the invention can include a pouch portion that is adapted to contain a snack food item, and a hanger portion that is attached to the pouch portion, having a hanging hole that is adapted to fit onto the protrusion of a beverage container. The pouch portion can be adapted to contain a loose snack food item or a packaged snack food item.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to packaging systems. More particularly,the invention relates to apparatus and methods for manufacturing snackfood hanging pouches, and for combining beverage containers and snackfood hanging pouches.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] It is well known that consumers frequently associate certainsnack foods and beverages with one another, and that consumersfrequently consume snack foods and beverages in combination. Forexample, consumers might be inclined to eat peanuts when drinking beer,to eat popcorn when drinking soda pop, or to eat trail mix when drinkingwater.

[0003] To capitalize on this, the food and beverage industry hasattempted to increase sales of both snack foods and beverages by tyingsales of certain beverages to sales of snack food items that are oftenassociated with those beverages. For example, the seller of popcornmight offer the popcorn purchaser a “cents-off” coupon that can beredeemed with the purchase of a bottle of soda pop, or the seller ofbottled water might offer a coupon that can be redeemed with thepurchase of a bag of trail mix.

[0004] Although this approach provides the beverage purchaser with anincentive to purchase the snack food item, or the snack food purchaserwith an incentive to purchase the beverage, such an approach requiresthe purchaser to actually retrieve both the beverage and the snack food.The extra effort required to locate the additional item and then tocarry it or place it into the shopping cart is often just enough todiscourage the purchaser from making the additional purchase. Even ifthe beverage and the snack food are placed in reasonable proximity toeach other, the consumer can still be dissuaded from buying both thesnack food and the beverage by having to pick up and carry more than oneitem.

[0005] It would be advantageous, therefore, to manufacturers, packagers,and merchandisers of snack foods and/or beverages if combinedbeverage/snack food products were available that entice the consumer topurchase both the snack food and the beverage, without requiring theconsumer to select and carry separate items. Thus, there is a need inthe art for combined beverage and snack food packages comprising abeverage container and a snack food hanging pouch. There is further aneed in the art for apparatus and methods for manufacturing such snackfood hanging pouches, as well as apparatus and methods for combiningsuch snack food hanging packages and beverage containers.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The invention satisfies the aforementioned needs in the art byproviding apparatus and methods for manufacturing snack food hangingpouches, and for combining beverage containers and snack food hangingpouches.

[0007] A combined beverage and snack food package according to theinvention can include a beverage container, and a snack food hangingpouch that is suspended from the protrusion of the beverage container.The beverage container can be a bottle, for example, and the protrusionthe neck of the bottle. A snack food hanging pouch according to theinvention can include a pouch portion that is adapted to contain a snackfood item, and a hanger portion that is attached to the pouch portion,having a hanging hole that is adapted to fit onto the protrusion of abeverage container. The pouch portion can be adapted to contain a loosesnack food item or a packaged snack food item.

[0008] The snack food hanging pouch can include a first seal formedproximate a first end of the pouch portion, and a second seal formedproximate a second end of the pouch portion to contain the snack fooditem between the first seal and the second seal. A reinforcement sealcan be formed around at least a portion of the hanging hole.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0009] Other features of the invention are further apparent from thefollowing detailed description of the embodiments of the presentinvention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

[0010]FIG. 1 depicts a preferred embodiment of a snack food hangingpouch according to the invention.

[0011]FIGS. 2A and 2B depict alternate preferred embodiments of thehanger portion of a snack food hanging pouch according to the invention.

[0012]FIG. 3 depicts a preferred embodiments of combined beverage andsnack food packages according to the invention.

[0013] FIGS. 4-7 depict apparatus according to the invention formanufacturing a snack food hanging pouch.

[0014]FIGS. 8A and 8B depict a preferred embodiment of a stripping andsealing assembly for manufacturing a snack food hanging pouch inaccordance with the invention.

[0015] FIGS. 9A-9C depict preferred embodiments of a sealer/splitterhead for manufacturing a snack food hanging pouch in accordance with theinvention.

[0016]FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a method for manufacturing a snack foodhanging pouch according to the invention.

[0017]FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a method for manufacturing a combinedbeverage and snack food package according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018]FIG. 1 depicts a preferred embodiment of a snack food hangingpouch 100 according to the invention. As shown, the snack food hangingpouch 100 comprises a pouch portion 102 and a hanger portion 104. Thepouch portion 102 is adapted to contain a snack food item 106. The snackfood item 106 can be a loose snack food item or a packaged snack fooditem. Examples of loose snack food items include loose pretzels, nuts,trail mix, or popcorn (which can be popcorn kernels or already popped).Examples of packaged snack food items include bags of pretzels, nuts,trail mix, popcorn, or microwaveable popcorn.

[0019] The hanger portion 104 of the snack food hanging pouch 100 isattached to the pouch portion 102, and has a hanging hole 112 that isadapted to fit onto a protrusion of a beverage container (not shown inFIG. 1). Preferably, the beverage container is a bottle, such as atwo-liter soft drink bottle, for example, and the protrusion is a neckof the bottle (see FIG. 3).

[0020] Preferably, the pouch portion 102 of the snack food hanging pouch100 is made of a polymeric material, such as plastic, for example.Preferably, the polymeric material is transparent, so that the consumercan see the snack food item 106 contained within the pouch portion 102,though it may be desirable to use colored or printed material to furtherenhance the marketing appeal of the pouch 100. It should be understood,however, that the pouch portion 102 could be made of paper, cardboard,foil, or any other suitable material.

[0021] Snack food items, such as potato chips, corn chips, and popcorn,for example, are frequently highly sensitive to oxygen and moisture andtend to become stale rapidly if exposed to room air for even arelatively short period of time. Consequently, it is preferred that suchsnack food items are packaged in bags that are manufactured from aflexible film material having inherent moisture- and oxygen-barrierproperties. Examples of suitable materials include waxed paper, metalfoil, thermoplastic film, and the like. Such bags can be contained inthe pouch portion 102 of the snack food hanging pouch 100. Alternativelyor additionally, the snack food hanging pouch 100 (or at least the pouchportion 102) can be made of such a material.

[0022] Frequently, snack food packages are constructed from a laminatefilm having a plurality of layers. While the respective layers may havea variety of properties, at least one layer is typically selected so asto provide each of the needed moisture and oxygen barrier properties.Again, the snack food item can be packaged in a bag made of such alaminate film, and the bags contained in the pouch portion 102 of thesnack food hanging pouch. Alternatively or additionally, the snack foodhanging pouch 100 (or at least the pouch portion 102) can be made ofsuch a laminate film.

[0023] In a preferred embodiment, the hanger portion 104 of the snackfood hanging pouch 100 is also made of a polymeric material, such asplastic, for example. As with the pouch portion 102, the hanger portion104 can be made of a transparent polymeric material, or it can be madeof colored or printed material to further enhance the marketing appealof the pouch 100. Generally, it is preferred that the hanger portion 104is made of the same material as the pouch portion 102. More preferably,the hanger portion 104 is integrally formed with the pouch portion 102.For example, as described in detail below in connection with FIGS. 4-7,the snack food hanging pouch 100 can be formed from a sheet of polymericmaterial. It should be understood, however, that the hanger portion 104could be made of paper, cardboard, foil, or any other suitable material.

[0024] Preferably, the snack food hanging pouch 100 includes a first (orbottom) seal 110 formed proximate a first end (or bottom) 111 of thepouch portion 102. A second (or top) seal 108 can be formed proximate asecond end (or top) 109 of the pouch portion 102 to contain the snackfood item 106 between the first seal 110 and the second seal 108. Thesnack food hanging pouch 100 can also include a reinforcement seal 114formed around at least a portion of the hanging hole 112. Thereinforcement seal 114 helps to ensure that the snack food hanging pouch100 does not break away from the beverage container from which it issuspended. The snack food hanging pouch 100 can also include a closureseal 118 formed proximate at least a portion of a perimeter 116 of thehanger portion 104. The closure seal 118 enhances the appeal of thehanging pouch 100 by sealing the flaps 117 that can be formed when thehanger portion is formed from, for example, a tubular sheet of polymericmaterial. It is anticipated that such flaps 117 will tend to curl in theabsence of a closure seal 118, and thereby adversely affect themarketing appeal of the product.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 1, the hanger portion 104 can have a generallysemi-circular overall shape. That is, the hanger portion perimeter 116can be generally semi-circular. FIGS. 2A and 2B depict alternatepreferred embodiments of a hanger portion 104 of a snack food hangingpouch 100 according to the invention. As shown in FIG. 2A, the hangerportion 104 can have a generally rectangular overall shape. That is, thehanger portion perimeter 116 can be generally rectangular. Similarly, asshown in FIG. 2B, the hanger portion can have a generally triangularoverall shape. That is, the hanger portion perimeter 116 can begenerally triangular. Preferably, in an embodiment wherein the hangerportion perimeter 116 is generally triangular, the hanger portion 104can have a rounded end 120, as shown in FIG. 2B.

[0026]FIG. 3 depicts a preferred embodiment of a combined beverage andsnack food package 300 according to the invention. As shown, the package300 comprises a beverage container 302 and a snack food hanging pouch100. The beverage container 302 includes a protrusion 304. In apreferred embodiment of the invention, the beverage container 302 is abottle and the protrusion 304 is a neck of the bottle. The snack foodhanging pouch 100 contains a snack food item 106, and is suspended fromthe protrusion 304 of the beverage container 302. Preferably, asdescribed above, the snack food hanging pouch 100 includes a hanginghole 112 via which the snack food hanging pouch 100 is suspended fromthe protrusion 304 of the beverage container 302. The beverage containercan include a label 310 and the snack food item can include a label 107.

[0027] A typical soft drink bottle, as depicted in FIG. 3, has a crown,closure, or cap 306, which is typically crimped over the neck 304 of thebottle 302. The neck 304 of a soft drink bottle, such as a two-litersoft drink bottle, for example, typically includes an annular beadportion 308 that extends radially outward from the neck of the bottlealong the perimeter thereof. Preferably, the hanging hole 112 is sizedand shaped such that it is stretched slightly as it is fitted over thecap 306. After the hanging hole 112 has been fitted over the cap 306,the hanging hole 112 returns to its original shape (due to the elastic“memory” of the material from which it is made), and thus fits snuglyonto the neck 304 of the bottle 302. The pouch 100 can be made to reston the annular bead portion 308, or to be fitted over the annular bead308 to rest on the shoulder 309 of the bottle 302.

[0028] It should be understood that the embodiment depicted in FIG. 3 ismerely an exemplary, preferred embodiment, and that a snack food hangingpouch 100 according to the invention can be adapted to be suspended fromany beverage container having a suitable protrusion. For example, asnack food hanging pouch according to the invention can be suspendedfrom the neck of a beer, water, or pop bottle, for example, or from thespout or spigot of a dispenser container, such as a 5-liter watercontainer that has a spigot for dispensing the water contained therein.The combined package 300 can then be offered for sale as a singleproduct or stock keeping unit (SKU), and labeled with a single productidentifier, such as a universal product code (UPC).

[0029]FIGS. 4 through 7 depict apparatus according to the invention formanufacturing a snack food hanging pouch 100. As shown, FIGS. 4 through7 depict a film drive unit 10 of a packaging machine 11. The packagingmachine 11 has a shaft 12 that receives a roll 13 of plastic film. Thefilm 14 is delivered to a former 15, which wraps the film 14 about alongitudinal axis, z, so as to form tubular pouch material 16. Thetubular pouch material can be moved via a pair of rollers 17 and 18.

[0030] A delivery hopper 19 is located above the former 15. The snackfood item, which can be either a loose snack food item or a packagedsnack food item, is delivered through an end 19 e of the delivery hopper19 into the tubular pouch material 16.

[0031] The tubular pouch material 16, after passing the rollers 17 and18 enters a pouch forming assembly (see FIGS. 8A, 8B), which can becontained in a housing 30, as shown. The pouch forming assembly, whichis described below in connection with FIGS. 8A and 8B, forms discretesnack food hanging pouches 100 in accordance with the invention. Therollers 17 and 18 can be mounted on supports 31 and 32 which, in turn,can be mounted on linkages 33 and 34. Linkages 33 and 34 can bepivotally mounted at their joint 35 so that the rollers 17 and 18 can beadjusted in their spacing from each other. Preferably, the rollers 17and 18 are mounted on supports 31 and 32 so as to be rotatable aboutgenerally parallel axes x₁ and x₂. Extending downwardly from within theformer 15 is a back seal bar 36 which co-operates with the roller 18 tojoin the longitudinal edge portions 14 e of the film strip 14 to formthe tubular pouch material 16. In a preferred embodiment, thelongitudinal edge portions 14 e can be heat sealed.

[0032] Other examples of packing machines that can be adapted for use inmanufacturing a snack food hanging pouch according to the invention aredescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,850,780, 4,663,917, 4,128,985, 4,288,965,4,910,943, 5,125,217, 5,366,130, 5,463,850, 5,537,798, 5,551,206, and5,622,033. In essence each of these packaging machines receives a stripof plastic film that is pulled passed a former so as to form a tube. Theedges of the strip are sealed together, and product is delivered to theinterior of the tube through the former. A sealing head engages the tubeand forms discrete bags, which are then severed from the remainder ofthe tube. Typically, closing bars and/or stripping bars can be employedto aid the packaging process.

[0033] It should be understood that the rollers 17 and 18 describedabove are merely one example of how the tubular pouch material can bemoved through a packaging machine. The film can be pulled through thepackaging machine by a variety of methods. For example, a vacuum couldbe to the rollers to draw the pouch material into frictional contactwith the rollers. The machine can be provided with a pair ofco-operating belts, as described in a number of the above patentspecifications, to which a vacuum may or may not be delivered. The filmis drawn into contact with the driven belts to thereby pull the filmthrough the machine. The belts can be made to pass around rollers thatare driven by electric motors that have suitable controlcharacteristics, such as stepping, servo, computer controlled motors, orthe like.

[0034] The packaging machine can be provided with vibration memberswhich engage the sides of the tube and cause the sides of the tube tovibrate transverse of the longitudinal direction of movement of tube tocause the snack food item being packaged to move towards the bottom ofthe pouch being formed. This is to reduce the volume that the snack fooditem occupies within the pouch portion of the snack food hanging pouch,and to reduce the possibility that the snack food item will be engagedby the closing bars and/or the sealing heads.

[0035]FIGS. 8A and 8B depict a preferred embodiment of a pouch formingassembly 50 for manufacturing a snack food hanging pouch 100 inaccordance with the invention. Preferably, the assembly 50 operates in arotary manner and, accordingly, can operate on a continuous basis. Asdescribed above, the packaging machine 11 can include a delivery hopper19 that delivers the snack food item 106 to the interior of a tubularpouch material 16. The pouch forming assembly 50 severs discrete pouches100 from the pouch material 16. Preferably, the assembly 50 includes twoopposing sealer/splitter heads 54, each of which is mounted on arespective arm 55 that is fixed to a respective shaft 56. The shafts 56can be rotatably driven in opposite directions, with the same angularvelocity. Each head 54 can be pivotally mounted on the end of therespective arm 55, as well as being movable longitudinally of therespective arm 55.

[0036] The sequence of operation of the above described assembly 50 isas follows. As the tubular pouch material 16 is driven past the deliveryhopper 19, the snack food item 106 is delivered to the interior of thetubular pouch material 16. The heads 54 engage the pouch material 16 tosealingly close the material 16 at one or more locations. For example,as shown in FIG. 8A, the heads 54 can engage the material 16 to form oneor more seals to contain the snack food item within a pouch portion ofthe snack food hanging pouch, and sever the pouch 100 from the remainderof the material 16. Once the pouch 100 has been formed, and is allowedto fall freely from the assembly 50, the arms 55 rotate to the positionshown in FIG. 8B. Thereafter the heads 54 are forced into engagementwith the pouch material 16 so as to bring the pouch material 16 togetherfor stripping and sealing. Preferably, the heads 54 are moved towardeach other and are moved in the direction of movement of the material 16at a velocity greater than the velocity of the material 16. Accordingly,the heads 54 will cause stripping of the pouch material 16 to therebyreduce the volume occupied by the snack food item 106 within the pouchportion 102. Upon the heads 54 reaching a predetermined position, thepouch material 16 can be sealed and severed from the remainder of thepouch material 16 so that a completed snack food hanging pouch 100 isformed.

[0037] FIGS. 9A-9C depict preferred embodiments of a sealer/splitterheads for manufacturing snack food hanging pouches according to theinvention that have hanger portions shaped as shown in FIGS. 2A, 1, and2C, respectively. FIG. 9A depicts a head 54 having a first seal former71, which forms the first (or bottom) seal 110 of the pouch portion 102of the subsequent snack food hanging pouch 100′. A second seal former 72forms the second (or top) seal 108 of the pouch portion 102 of thecurrent hanging pouch 100. Thus, the pouch portion 102 of the currenthanging pouch 100 is formed between the second seal 108 and the firstseal 110 (which would have been formed on the current hanging pouch 100during the previous rotation of the heads 54).

[0038] A first cutter 73 severs the current hanging pouch 100 from theremainder of the tubular pouch material 16. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 9A, the first cutter 73 also forms a generally rectangularperimeter 116 of the hanger portion 104 (as depicted in FIG. 2A). A holecutter 74 forms the hanging hole 112. A hole sealer 75 forms areinforcement seal 114 around the hanging hole 112. A perimeter sealer76 forms a closure seal 118 along the perimeter 116 of the hangerportion 104.

[0039] As shown in FIGS. 9B and 9C, the head 54 can include a perimetercutter 78 that cuts the perimeter 116 of the hanger portion 104. FIG. 9Bdepicts a head 54 having a perimeter cutter 78 that forms a generallysemi-circular perimeter 116 of the hanger portion 104 (as depicted inFIG. 1). FIG. 9C depicts a head 54 having the perimeter cutter 78 thatforms a generally triangular perimeter 116 of the hanger portion 104 (asdepicted in FIG. 2B). Scrap material, i.e., those portions of the pouchmaterial 16 that is not used to form part of a hanging pouch, can beallowed to fall into a bin, or the like, where it can be collected forreuse, recycling or disposal.

[0040] It should be understood that the configuration of sealers andcutters can be varied in any number of ways to manufacture a snack foodhanging pouch having any desired shape, and having any desired number orconfiguration of seals.

[0041]FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a method 400 for manufacturing a snackfood hanging pouch according to the invention. At step 402, a tubularsheet of packaging material, having a longitudinal axis, is provided.Apparatus and methods for providing such a tubular sheet of packagingmaterial are described above. Preferably, the tubular sheet of packagingmaterial is formed from a flat sheet of packaging material, such as apolymeric film that can be provided as a roll of film. At step 404, afirst seal is formed across the tubular sheet, transverse to thelongitudinal axis. A snack food item is inserted into the tubular sheet,proximate the first seal, at step 406. At step 408, a second seal isformed across the tubular sheet, transverse to the longitudinal axis,such that the snack food item is contained between the first seal andthe second seal. The first seal and the second seal define a pouchportion of the snack food hanging pouch. Thus, a pouch portion of thesnack food hanging pouch can be formed, wherein the pouch portioncontains the snack food item.

[0042] At step 410, the tubular sheet is severed, transverse to thelongitudinal axis, proximate the first seal, to form a first end of thesnack food hanging pouch. At step 412, a hanger portion of the snackfood hanging pouch is formed proximate the second seal. The hangerportion is formed such that it includes a hanging hole via which thesnack food hanging pouch can be suspended from a protrusion of abeverage container. Thus, a hanger portion of the snack food hangingpouch can be formed, wherein the hanger portion is attached to the pouchportion and has a hanging hole that is adapted to fit onto a protrusionof a beverage container.

[0043]FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a method 500 for manufacturing acombined beverage and snack food package according to the invention. Atstep 502, a snack food hanging pouch, such as described in detail above,that contains a snack food item is provided. Snack food hanging pouchescan be manufactured as described above, and allowed to collect in a binor fall one-by-one onto a conveyor belt. The conveyor belt can deliverthe snack food hanging pouches to a “combining location,” i.e., alocation where snack food hanging pouches are combined with beveragecontainers to form a combined package according to the invention.Similarly, a bin containing a number of snack food hanging pouches canbe wheeled to the combining location. Alternatively, the snack foodhanging pouches can be crated and shipped to a remote combininglocation, i.e., a location other than the location where the hangingpouches are manufactured where the pouches are combined with beveragecontainers. Examples of such a remote combining location include anotherplant where the beverage containers are manufacturer or filled, or apoint of sale, such as a supermarket, for example.

[0044] At step 504, a beverage container having a protrusion isprovided. Beverage containers can be conveyed to the combining locationin a line, such as might be found at a bottling plant, or they can becrated and shipped to the combining location.

[0045] At step 506, the snack food hanging pouch and the beveragecontainer are combined to form a combined beverage and snack foodpackage according to the invention. Preferably, the snack food hangingpouch is suspended from the protrusion of the beverage container. Thiscan be done at the point of sale (e.g., at the supermarket), or manuallyat another combining location. For example, the beverage containers canbe conveyed to the combining location in a line, and an operator cansuspend a hanging pouch from each container as it passes. Alternatively,the process can be automated. That is, machinery can be used to suspendthe hanging pouches from the beverage containers.

[0046] The combined packages can then be boxed, shipped, and shelved (orotherwise displayed for sale).

[0047] Thus, there have been described apparatus and methods formanufacturing snack food hanging pouches, and for combining beveragecontainers and snack food hanging pouches. Those skilled in the art willappreciate that numerous changes and modifications can be made to thepreferred embodiments of the invention, and that such changes andmodifications can be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention. It is intended, therefore, that the appended claims cover allsuch equivalent variations as fall within the true spirit and scope ofthe invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A snack food hanging pouch, comprising: a pouchportion that is adapted to contain a snack food item; and a hangerportion that is attached to the pouch portion, said hanger portionhaving a hanging hole that is adapted to fit onto a protrusion of abeverage container.
 2. The snack food hanging pouch of claim 1, furthercomprising: a first seal formed proximate a first end of the pouchportion.
 3. The snack food hanging pouch of claim 2, further comprising:a second seal formed proximate a second end of the pouch portion tocontain the snack food item between the first seal and the second seal.4. The snack food hanging pouch of claim 1, further comprising: areinforcement seal formed around at least a portion of the hanging hole.5. The snack food hanging pouch of claim 1, wherein the pouch portion isadapted to contain a loose snack food item.
 6. The snack food hangingpouch of claim 1, wherein the pouch portion is adapted to contain apackaged snack food item.
 7. The snack food hanging pouch of claim 1,wherein the beverage container is a bottle, and the protrusion is a neckof the bottle.
 8. The snack food hanging pouch of claim 1, wherein thebeverage container is a two-liter bottle, and the protrusion is a neckof the two-liter bottle.
 9. The snack food hanging pouch of claim 1,wherein the pouch portion is made of a polymeric material.
 10. The snackfood hanging pouch of claim 1, wherein the pouch portion is made of atransparent polymeric material.
 11. The snack food hanging pouch ofclaim 1, wherein the snack food hanging pouch is formed from a tubularsheet of polymeric material.
 12. The snack food hanging pouch of claim1, wherein the pouch portion is integral with the hanger portion. 13.The snack food hanging pouch of claim 1, wherein the hanger portion hasa hanger portion perimeter that is generally semi-circular.
 14. Thesnack food hanging pouch of claim 1, wherein the hanger portion has ahanger portion perimeter that is generally rectangular.
 15. The snackfood hanging pouch of claim 1, wherein the hanger portion has a hangerportion perimeter that is generally triangular.
 16. The snack foodhanging pouch of claim 15, wherein the hanger portion has a generallyrounded end.
 17. The snack food hanging pouch of claim 1, furthercomprising: a reinforcement seal formed proximate at least a portion ofa perimeter of the hanger portion.
 18. A combined beverage and snackfood package, comprising: a beverage container having a protrusion; anda snack food hanging pouch that contains a snack food item, wherein thesnack food hanging pouch is suspended from the protrusion of thebeverage container.
 19. The package of claim 18, wherein: the snack foodhanging pouch includes a hanging hole via which the snack food hangingpouch is suspended from the protrusion of the beverage container. 20.The package of claim 19, wherein: the snack food hanging pouch comprisesa hanger portion; and the hanging hole is disposed within the hangerportion of the snack food hanging pouch.
 21. The package of claim 20,wherein: the snack food hanging pouch further comprises a pouch portionthat is attached to the hanger portion; and the pouch portion of thebottle hanger contains the snack food item.
 22. The package of claim 21,wherein: the snack food hanging pouch further comprises a first sealformed proximate a first end of the pouch portion.
 23. The package ofclaim 22, wherein: the snack food hanging pouch further comprises asecond seal formed proximate a second end of the pouch portion; and thesnack food item is contained between the first seal and the second seal.24. The package of claim 20, wherein: the snack food hanging pouchfurther comprises a reinforcement seal formed around at least a portionof the hanging hole.
 25. The package of claim 18, wherein: the snackfood is a loose snack food item.
 26. The package of claim 18, wherein:the snack food is a packaged snack food item.
 27. The package of claim18, wherein: the beverage container is a bottle, and the protrusion is aneck of the bottle.
 28. The package of claim 18, wherein: the beveragecontainer is a two-liter bottle, and the protrusion is a neck of thetwo-liter bottle.
 29. The package of claim 18, wherein: the snack foodhanging pouch is made of a polymeric material.
 30. The package of claim21, wherein: the pouch portion of the snack food hanging pouch is madeof a polymeric material.
 31. The package of claim 18, wherein: the snackfood hanging pouch is made of a transparent polymeric material.
 32. Thepackage of claim 21, wherein: the pouch portion of the snack foodhanging pouch is made of a transparent polymeric material.
 33. Thepackage of claim 18, wherein: the snack food hanging pouch is formedfrom a tubular sheet of polymeric material.
 34. The package of claim 21,wherein: the pouch portion of the snack food hanging pouch is integralwith the hanger portion thereof.
 35. The package of claim 20, wherein:the hanger portion of the snack food hanging pouch has a hanger portionperimeter that is generally semi-circular.
 36. The package of claim 20,wherein: the hanger portion of the snack food hanging pouch has a hangerportion perimeter that is generally rectangular.
 37. The package ofclaim 20, wherein: the hanger portion of the snack food hanging pouchhas a hanger portion perimeter that is generally triangular.
 38. Thepackage of claim 37, wherein: the hanger portion of the snack foodhanging pouch has a generally rounded end.
 39. The package of claim 20,wherein: the snack food hanging pouch comprises a reinforcement sealformed proximate at least a portion of a perimeter of the hanger portionthereof.
 40. A method for manufacturing a snack food hanging pouch, themethod comprising: providing a tubular sheet of packaging material, thetubular sheet having a longitudinal axis; forming a first seal acrossthe tubular sheet, transverse to the longitudinal axis; inserting asnack food item into the tubular sheet proximate the first seal; forminga second seal across the tubular sheet, transverse to the longitudinalaxis, such that the snack food item is contained between the first sealand the second seal, the first seal and the second seal defining a pouchportion of the snack food hanging pouch; severing the tubular sheet,transverse to the longitudinal axis, proximate the first seal to form afirst end of the snack food hanging pouch; and forming a hanger portionof the snack food hanging pouch proximate the second seal, the hangerportion having a hanging hole via which the snack food hanging pouch canbe suspended from a protrusion of a beverage container.
 41. The methodof claim 40, further comprising: forming the tubular sheet of packagingmaterial from a flat sheet of packaging material.
 42. A method formanufacturing a snack food hanging pouch, the method comprising: forminga pouch portion of the snack food hanging pouch, the pouch portioncontaining a snack food item; and forming a hanger portion of the snackfood hanging pouch, wherein the hanger portion is attached to the pouchportion and has a hanging hole that is adapted to fit onto a protrusionof a beverage container.
 43. A method for manufacturing a combinedbeverage and snack food package, the method comprising: providing abeverage container having a protrusion; providing a snack food hangingpouch that contains a snack food item; and suspending the snack foodhanging pouch from the protrusion of the beverage container. 44.Apparatus for manufacturing a snack food hanging pouch, the apparatuscomprising: a delivery hopper that delivers a snack food item into atubular pouch material; and a pouch forming assembly that severs a snackfood hanging pouch from the tubular pouch material, wherein the snackfood hanging pouch contains the snack food item and has a hanging holevia which the snack food hanging pouch can be suspended from aprotrusion of a beverage container.
 45. The apparatus of claim 44,further comprising: a former that wraps a sheet of pouch material filmabout a longitudinal axis to form the tubular pouch material.
 46. Theapparatus of claim 44, wherein the pouch forming assembly comprises apair of opposing sealer/stripper heads that seal and sever the pouchmaterial to form the snack food hanging pouch.
 47. The apparatus ofclaim 46, wherein at least one of the sealer/stripper heads includes afirst seal former that forms a first seal and a second seal former thatforms a second seal such that the snack food item is contained betweenthe first seal and the second seal.
 48. The apparatus of claim 46,wherein at least one of the sealer/stripper heads includes a firstcutter that strips the snack food hanging pouch away from the tubularpouch material.
 49. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein at least one ofthe sealer/stripper heads includes a hole cutter that forms the hanginghole.
 50. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein at least one of thesealer/stripper heads includes a hole sealer that forms a reinforcementseal around at least a portion of the hanging hole.
 51. The apparatus ofclaim 46, wherein at least one of the sealer/stripper heads includes aperimeter sealer that forms a closure seal along at least a portion of aperimeter of the hanging pouch.
 52. The apparatus of claim 46, whereinthe snack food hanging pouch includes a hanger portion, and at least oneof the sealer/stripper heads includes a perimeter cutter that cuts thetubular pouch material to form a perimeter of the hanger portion.
 53. Acombined beverage and snack food package, comprising: a beveragecontainer having a protrusion; and a snack food hanging pouch that isadapted to contain a snack food item, wherein the snack food hangingpouch is suspended from the beverage container protrusion.
 54. Thecombined beverage and snack food package of claim 53, wherein the snackfood hanging pouch includes: a pouch portion that is adapted to containthe snack food item; and a hanger portion having a hanging hole adaptedto fit onto the beverage container protrusion.